The four gates of Shouchun fell into the control of the Han army one after another. The fall of the city did not mean the end of the war. The war was in chaos for an hour. It was still a true portrayal of the situation inside and outside the city.
The Northern Han Dynasty had been stationed under the city for nearly three months. The three armies had suffered a lot. The officers and soldiers were holding back more or less anger in their hearts. They finally broke through the city. Many soldiers vented their anger on the guards and soldiers in the city. On the soldiers and the people.
When the city is destroyed, it is often the moment when all regulations are broken. The disorder of order often brings disaster, and this disaster is destined to be borne only by the tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Shouchun City. In addition, there were too many Han troops entering the city, and the personnel were too mixed. Among the armies, competition for credit was also occurring due to previous reasons, causing the chaos in the city to last for nearly an hour.
Although the Han army has strict military discipline, it is unrealistic to completely restrain them in this kind of war that destroys the city and establishes the country. After all, in times of chaos, there is a saying that "the law does not blame the masses".
After learning about the situation in the city, Liu Chengyou issued another strict order, commanding the armies, strictly restraining the soldiers and not disturbing the people. He also used Tao Guquan's Shouchun mansion affairs to go into the city to display the royal list and appease the people, and the chaos was alleviated.
As the situation in Shouchun City gradually stabilized, except for the three armies of Longqi, Husheng, and Xiaodi, who each left one soldier to guard the city and key defensive areas, all remaining Han troops were withdrawn and remained outside the city. The Tang army's approximately 13,000 prisoners were all disarmed and taken to the military camp outside the city, where they were detained and guarded.
"Your Majesty, the purge of Shouchun City has been completed, the soldiers and the people are at peace, Tao Sheren sent people to report, and they are ready to welcome you. Your Majesty can move on!" In the imperial tent, Liu Chengyou wrote the memorials one by one, Pan Mei came to report.
Liu Chengyou directly ordered: "Send the order to Li Jixun and lead the Fenchen Camp escort into the city!"
"yes!"
"Zhong Xun!" Pan Mei turned around and went to deliver the order, but was stopped by Liu Chengyou.
"What are your orders, Your Majesty?" Pan Mei turned around again.
Liu Chengyou raised his finger and said: "Now that Shouchun is coming, it is time for our Han army to capture the city and sweep across Huainan Prefecture and County! Zhang Yongde has already captured Hefei first. Obviously, after the consecutive defeats, the puppet Tang Dynasty has no spare power in Jiangbei. If you can stop my army, you can guard my front!"
From Liu Chengyou's words, Pan Mei realized something, cupped her hands and said: "Please give me your Majesty's orders!"
Liu Chengyou had always admired Pan Mei's agility under her prudent demeanor, and directly ordered: "I will dispatch five battalions of soldiers from the Fengguo Army, and a thousand soldiers from the Huaide Army to lead with you, and head south to Hefei first. Arrive at Hefei After that, continue to advance south, Zhang Yongde attacks Hezhou, and you lead the army to attack Shuzhou!"
"Your Majesty, the general is still young. He has no experience in leading an army alone before, and he has no great achievements. How can he lead an army alone? I may not be able to convince the people!" Faced with Liu Chengyou entrusting him with the important task, Pan Mei was not surprised. asked cautiously.
Seeing this, Liu Chengyou said: "Can't I still see your Pan Mei's talent? You have no merit, so I gave you the opportunity to make meritorious deeds! How can a man be so forward-looking and hesitant when he is alive? Isn't this being looked down upon? I ask you, do you have any? Confidence, win Shuzhou for me?"
"Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty! You will definitely live up to your mission!" The emperor said this, but Pan Mei was not angry and immediately knelt down on one knee and responded with great emotion. Pan Mei was grateful from the bottom of her heart for the emperor's support and trust.
If only based on seniority and merit, Pan Mei is certainly not qualified. There are too many veterans in the camp. However, he relied on the emperor's trust and liked to promote young people, and based on his experience as a guard beside Liu Chengyou, he had that qualification.
Wang Hanlun, Zhao Kuangyin, Gao Huaide, Zhao Yanjin, Zhang Yongde, etc., these young generals all have the experience of staying in front of the palace. These people are either sent to a state or lead an army alone. In short, they are "imperial commander" This golden signboard is enough to withstand a large part of the criticism. The rest depends on their performance.
Judging from the current situation, there are no mediocre generals in Suwei.
"After I look for it, I will lead my army southward, and you will serve as the outpost of the three armies, sweeping across the prefectures and counties, shaking the two rivers!" Liu Chengyou looked directly at Pan Mei, plain yet domineering: "Bring Ma Renyu with you, I and him The first battalion is commanded, and the soldiers will be selected from Huaide’s army!”
"Yes!" Pan Mei's short word was sonorous and powerful.
In the evening, in Shouchun North City, the suspension bridge was lowered and rested on the almost filled moat in front of the Wengcheng. The corpses above and below the city wall had already been separated and cleaned up. Compared with the reception, recording, and cremation of Han soldiers and Han people, as the losers, Tang soldiers just dug a big pit on the left side of the city and buried them in mass.
A few days ago, after the failed raid, He Jingzhu was ready to defend. He Jingzhu simply blocked the four gates of Shouchun with sand, gravel and wood. It did cause some trouble for the Han army who dealt with the aftermath, and it took a lot of time. As the last bit of sand was cleaned up by the civilians, they were replaced by Sergeant Long Qi with a neat military appearance.
After everything was in order, under the leadership of Wang Jun, Murong Yanzhao and Tao Gu, they respectfully welcomed the emperor. Liu Chengyou chose to take a car and enter the city calmly under the tight protection of Ouchi guards and Fengchen soldiers.
It was difficult to clean up the entire city in half a day. The devastation of war could be seen everywhere along the way. The route Luan Jia took was full of Han sentries, and in the neighborhoods he passed, there were many people in the city. They could only hear the movement of carriages on the streets, and the doors and windows were tightly closed, not even daring to leave a crack. The Han army has announced along the way that anyone who dares to leave the doors or windows open will be punished with assassination.
In front of the Jiedu Yamen in Shouzhou, Liu Chengyou got the chance to ride, and officially as a conqueror and victor, he set foot on the ground of this fortified city in Huainan that had blocked him for nearly three months. It's impossible to say how excited he was. Apart from relaxing a little, Liu Chengyou's heart was almost motionless.
"Your name is Han Chongyun!" Liu Chengyou looked at the commander of Longqiying who was guarding the Yamen.
"It's the last general!" Facing the emperor's gaze, Han Chongyun was a little surprised and responded subconsciously.
"The battle to climb the city was well fought!" Liu Chengyou didn't say much, showed a reserved smile, and headed towards the yamen first.
Although it was just a simple compliment, to Han Chongyun, it was nothing less than Jiayin, and he had more expectations after the war.
Entering the hall, sitting in the middle, receiving worship from civil and military officials.
"Your Majesty, all the offices and warehouses in Shouzhou have sent troops to garrison. All the officials in the city have surrendered, and the household registration books have also been received." Tao Guze stood up and reported the situation in the city: "In Shouchun City, there are original soldiers and civilians Nearly 70,000 people, but after this battle, excluding the captured soldiers and servants, the number is estimated to be less than 40,000. When the ministers were at peace with the people, they found that everyone looked hungry and their steps were empty.
After the siege of the city, the grain roads were cut off, and the rice and millet in the city could not withstand the consumption of the soldiers and civilians in the city. He Jingzhu also plundered the people's savings for military use. As a result, many people died of cold and starvation in the city since winter.
Among the officials in Shouchun, the ministers counted the money, food and weapons, but there was not much rice and millet left. Since ancient times, it has been difficult to defend an isolated city, and the food supplies are running out. In fact, in less than half a month, Shouchun will run out of food supplies and will be destroyed without attack! "
After listening to Tao Gu's report, Liu Chengyou didn't show much emotion on his face. He thought for a moment and ordered to Tao Gu: "Take out all the remaining grain and cloth in Shouchun's treasury, set up huts and tents, and help the people of Shouchun!"
"As you command!"
Liu Chengyou's generosity seemed generous, and it was spread that "the Han emperor destroyed the city and used all his treasury to benefit the people." However, in fact, there was almost no need to use the food of the camp. And the effect of appeasing the people will definitely not be bad.
"Your Majesty, I inspected the Shouchun Prison and found that there were thousands of prisoners. Most of them were those who opposed He Jingzhu's militarism and were innocently imprisoned. Among them were many state officials and wealthy businessmen!" Tao Gu added: "In my opinion, I may be able to fully explain it to show His Majesty's mercy. After they are released from prison, they can also praise Your Majesty's grace!"
Regarding Tao Gu's suggestion, Liu Chengyou frowned. He first encouraged Tao Gu to take over the state's governance, and then said: "Among the thousands of prisoners, they are not all innocent people. There is no guarantee that there are no law-breakers. According to the "Xingtong", we should first distinguish between Zang and Zang, and after considering the good and evil, the innocent will be released, and the guilty will have their sentences increased! Tao Qing will handle this matter!"
To put it bluntly, the people Tao Gu said were imprisoned by He Jingzhu were always troublemakers, just like the Han Dynasty. If Seoul was besieged, how should these people oppose the military force? That's why. Liu Chengyou doesn't have a good impression of these people.
"Yes!" Seeing the emperor's reaction, Tao Gu immediately responded: "Your Majesty has thought it through, but I failed to think it through!"
"What about He Jingzhu?" Liu Chengyou thought about it and asked.
Upon hearing this, Sun Li chuckled, took out He Jingzhu's head as if it were a treasure, and worshiped him: "That old thief would rather die than surrender. He killed himself. I behead him and offer him his head!"
Liu Chengyou glanced at it, it was bloody and a little cruel. However, he has seen a lot of cruel people and is accustomed to it. His hair and beard were white and stained with blood, and his face was so ugly that it was terrifying.
Gao Huaide, who was here, could not help but stand up and said: "Your Majesty, I finally found out that He Jingzhu had been suffering from illness for a long time. He resisted despite the illness. On the day the city was broken, he committed suicide facing south. He had dozens of people accompanying him to protect his body and fight for his life. Kill until death. The general will think that although the veteran general is stupid and stubborn, he is still a hero, so please kill him!"
"That hero is my enemy!" Liu Chengyou's words made Gao Huaide's expression change.
"However, it is extremely rare for Zang Yong to have such a benevolent heart!" Liu Chengyou stood up and said: "Before the city was destroyed, I hated He Jingzhu to the core, and I wanted to crush him to ashes. But after the city was destroyed, I heard that he was I can't help but lament about his deeds. Veterans are rare.
Forget it, since the deceased was the most important, He Jingzhu's body was taken into custody and buried on the outskirts of the city. A hero's tomb was built for him to reward his loyalty and bravery. The dozens of Tang soldiers who guarded his body were buried with him. Thousands of years later, if future generations will tell this story, it will be considered a good story.
In addition, when I take all Huainan, and the descendants return to rule, the local government should treat them kindly! "
"Your Majesty is merciful!" All the civil and military officials in the hall immediately paid their respects.
Liu Chengyou made this arrangement not only for the sake of his favor with He Jingzhu, but more importantly, to promote his benevolence as the emperor of Han Dynasty. This kind of show is still necessary.
As he said to Tao Gu before, he was already thinking about post-war matters. The Han's southern expedition naturally brought war and killing to the people of Huainan. There is no need to hope that the people of Huainan would welcome the Han army.
During the war, it didn't matter, but after the war, thousands of miles of land, states and towns, and millions of households would all be governed. How to incorporate the Huai people into Han people was what Liu Chengyou had to consider.
It is not difficult to clean up the people's hearts. A brief explanation of benevolent policies can make the head of Guizhou forget the trauma of this war in just a few years.
